Brake beam, head and guide structure



INVENTOR AT ORNEY mm m 7, 4 2 2 E m T w W? 4 C w 2 A in Cfid 6 Mn F B m B Oct. 3, 1950 CARL E. TACK Patented Oct. 3, 1950 BRAKE BEAM, HEAD AND GUIDE STRUCTURE Cal-17E. Tack, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Steel Foundries; Chicago, 111., a corporation of New J ersey' A Application April 12, 1947, Serial No. 741,027

This invention relates to brake beams and more particularly to a novel fabricated truss type railway brake beam.

The instant application is related to a copending application Serial No. 756,272, filed June 2'7, 947, in the name of Robert B. Cottrell, wherein certain improvements on the instant invention are disclosed and claimed.

A general object of the invention is to design a novel beam of the above-described type which may be economically providedwith a wear plate at each end. thereof adapted to support the :beam from an associated truck frame bracket in what is commonly known as Unit beam suspension.

Another object of the invention is to design a novel fabricated railway brake beam such as above described wherein the brake head and associated wear plate are removably connected to each other and to the associated truss structure, as by rivets.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel support for the wear plate by means of an extension on the associated brake beam structure extending into asocket formed in the hollow guide lug or projection which is adapted to afford a guiding support for the beam.

The invention comprehends a novel brake head with communicating internal sockets adapted to receive the tension and compression members of the brake beam truss structure to which the head is secured.

The novel brake'head is also provided with a rearwardly extending outboard wall spaced inboardly from the outboard face of the brake head to define a recess adapted to accommodate the associated wear plate.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmenetary top plan view of a truss type railway brake beamembodying the invention, onlyrone end of the beam being shown inasmuch as the beam is symmetrical about its transverse center line; I 3

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1; r

Figure 3 isan end view of the structure in Figure 1; V I

, Figure .4 is asectional view on the line 44 of Figure l; and Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the beam with the head removed.

shown 15 Claims. (Cl. 188223.1)

members 2 and 4 adapted for connection in the usual manner at the transverse center line of the beam by a strut (not shown) affording connection to associated actuating means, such as a brake lever (not shown) The compression member is of U or channel-section and comprises top and bottom webs 6 and 8 interconnected by a front web l0 slotted as at [2 (Figures 1 and 3) to receive the bent outboard extremity M of the tension member 2, said extremity being welded within the slot to define one end of a lei-laterally Describing the invention in detail, the novel brake beam comprises tension and compression symmetrical truss structure.

A brake head generally designated [6 is con nected to each end of the truss structure'and comprises a front wall l8 adapted to support associated brake shoe means (not shown) in the conventional manner. The front wall I8 is connected to laterally spaced inboard and outboard side walls 20 and 22 extending rearwardly from the wall Hi, the outboard wall 22 being disposed inboardly of the outboard surface of the wall 18 to define a recess 24 (Figure 1) for a purpose hereinafter described. The lateral walls 20 and 22 are interconnected by a transverse rear wall 26 with an arcuate segment or portion 28 defining a socket for the reception of the extremity M of the tension member 2. The segment 28 is connected to the front wall [8 by a reinforcing rib 30.

The rear wall 26 affords a seat for the front web 10 of the compression member 4 which also abuts top and bottom brake head walls 32 and 34 merging with the wall 26 and extending rearwardly therefrom to define a channel or socket inboardly of the brake head wall 22, said channel being adapted to receive the compression mem-' her, as best seen in Figures 1 and 3. The top and bottom webs 6 and'8 of the compression member are removably secured to the walls 32 and 34 respectively, as by rivets 36.

The outboard brake head wall 22 extends rearwardly from the Wall 26 to afford an abutment for the end of the compression member 4, and the wall 22 is formed on its outboard face with a projection or lug 38 adapted to be snugly fitted within a complementary socket 42 (Figures 2 and 3) formed within a hollow projection or lug 44 on the outboard face of a wear plate 46 removably secured as by rivets 48 to a complementary flat seat on the outboard face of the wall 22 within the recess 24so that the outboard surface of the plate 46, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, is substantially coplanar with theroutboard surface of the brake head wall 18.

The projection 44 is adapted for reception within a complementary bracket (not shown) of an associated truck frame to afford a guidable support for the beam in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, and it may be noted that the socket 42 extends outboardly of the lug 38 to afford a convenient passage or receptacle for foreign matter accidentally collected within the truck bracket, thereby preventing entrapment of such matter between the guide lug 44 and a portion of the bracket. It will be understood that if desired this feature may be eliminated by providing a lug 38 of sufficient length to fill the socket 42 to the outboard extremity thereof, thereby affording additional reinforcement for the lug 44.

It may be noted that the above-described arrangement is particularly useful in a fabricated type beam wherein it is desirable to use a malleable iron brake head with a steel truss structure and-a steel wear plate 46 which is sufficiently hard to afford durable wearing surfaces on the top and bottom of the lug 44; however, the various parts of the beam may be constructed of any desired materials.

The rear brake head Wall 26 extends upwardly from the wall 32 and downwardly from the wall 34 to merge with the outboard wall 22 and is thus tapered inboardly, as best seen in Figure 2, to merge with top and bottom gussets 52 and 54 formed on the respective walls 32 and 34 as inboard continuations of the tapered wall 26 inboardly of the brake head wall 20. This arrangement provides an extremely compact and sturdy brake head wherein the above-mentioned sockets for the tension and compression members 2 and l afiords rigidity for the outboard extremity of the truss structure defined thereby.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a truss type railway brake beam, a brake beam structure comprising a U-section compression member having a front web and top and bottom webs projecting rearwardly therefrom, a tension member having its outboard extremity bent approximately parallel to said front web and welded within a slot therethrough, and a brake head comprising a front wall adapted to support associated brake shoe means, a rear wall, inboard and outboard walls connected between said front and rear walls, said outboard wall being disposed inboardly of the outboard edgeof said front wall to define a recess therewith, said rear wall having an arcuate portion between said inboard and outboard walls defining a socket receiving said extremity of said tension member, top and bottom walls connected to said outboard Wall and extending inboardly therefrom to define a socket receiving the end of said compres sion member, said structure comprising a projection extending outboardly beyond the outboard side of said outboard wall, and a wear plate received within said recess and secured to the outboard side of said outboard wall, said plate comprising a hollow outboard guide lug having said projection snugly fitted therein.

2. In a truss type railway brake beam/a brake beam structure comprising a U-section compression member having a front web and top and bottom webs projecting rearwardly therefrom, a tension member welded to said front web, and a brake head comprising front and rear walls, inboard and outboard walls connected thereto, the outboard wall extending rearwardly of the rear wall to afford a wear plate seat on the outboard side of said outboard wall, said rear wall having an arcuate portion between said inboard and outboard walls defining a socket receiving the end of said tension member, top and bottom walls connected to said outboard wall and to said rear wall and extending rearwardly therefrom to de fine a socket receiving the end of said compression member, said structure comprising a projection extending outboardly from the outboard side of said outboard wall, and a wear plate with fiat portions secured to said seat above and below the level of said top and bottom walls respectively, said plate comprising a hollow outboard guide lug having said projection fitted therein. 7

3. A brake head unit for a railway brake beam comprising a brake head with a front wall adapted to support associated brake shoe means, inboard and outboard walls projecting rearwardly from said front wall, a rear wall connected to the rear end of the inboard wall and connected to the outboard wall, top and bottom walls connected to the outboard wall and to the rear wall and extending rearwardly from the latter to define a socket therewith for an associated brake beam part, a lug projecting from the outboard surface of said outboard wall, and a wear plate secured to said outboard wall above and below said top and bottom walls, respectively, said plate comprising a hollow outboard lug receiving the first-mentioned lug and adapted to afford support for the unit from an associated supporting structure, said rear wall having an arcuate portion intermediate said inboard and outboard walls defining a socket communicating with the firstmentioned socket and adapted to receive another associated brake beam part.

4. A brake head unit for a railway brake beam comprising a brake head with a front wall adapted to support associated brake shoe means, inboard and outboard walls projecting rearwardly from said front wall, a rear wall connected to the rear end of the inboard wall and connected to the outboard wall, top and bottom walls connected to the outboard wall and to the rear wall and extending rearwardly from the latter to define a socket therewith for an associated brake beam part, a lug projecting from the outboard surface of said outboard wall, and a wear plate secured to said outboard wall above and below said top and bottom walls respectively, said plate comprising a hollow outboard lug receiving the first-mentioned lug and adapted to afford support for the unit from an associated supporting structure.

5. A brake head comprising a front wall adapted to support associated brake shoe means,

inboard and outboard walls projecting rearwardly from said front wall, arear wall connected between said inboard and outboard .walls, top and bottom walls extending rearwardly from said rear wall and defining a socket therewith, said outboard wall extending rearwardly from said rear wall to define the outboard end of said socket and to afford supportfor an associated wear plate, and a lug on the outboard side of said outboard wall adapted for. reception within a complementaryv socket in said plate.

6. A brake'head comprising" a front wall adapted to support associated brake shoe means, inboard and outboard walls projecting rearwardly from said front wall, a rear wall connected between said inboard and outboard walls. and top and bottom walls extending rearwardly from said rear wall and defining a channel therewith, said outboard wall extending rearwardly from said rear wall to define the outboard end of said channel and. to afford support for an associated wear plate, said rear wall having an arcuate portion intermediate said inboard and outboard walls defining a socket communicating with said channel.

7. A brake head comprising a front wall adapted to support associated brake shoe means, inboard and outboard walls projecting rearwardly from said front wall, a rear wall connected between said inboard and outboard walls, and top and bottom walls extending rearwardly from said rear wall and defining a socket therewith, said outboard wall extending rearwardly from said rear wall to define the outboard end of said socket and to aiford support for an associated wear plate.

8. A brake head comprising a front wall adapted to support associated brake shoe means, a vertical wall extending rearwardly from said front wall and disposed inboardly of the outboard edge of said front wall to define a recess for an associated wear plate, and a rear wall integrally formed with said vertical wall on the inboard side thereof, said rear wall having an arcuate portion defining a socket extending transversely of the brake head and adapted for the reception of an associated brake beam part, and said rear wall having fiat surfaces above and below said socket affording seats for another brake beam part.

9. A brake head comprising a front wall, a.

wall extending rearwardly therefrom, a flat plate secured to the outboard surface of the secondmentioned Wall, the outboard surface of said plate being substantially coplanar with the outboard surface of said front wall, a support lug integrally formed with said plate and extending outboardly therefrom, and a lug integrally formed on said second-mentioned wall and snugly fitted with in a complementary socket in said support lug.

10. A brake head comprising a front wall, a wall extending rearwardly therefrom, a fiat plate secured to the outboard surface of the secondmentioned wall, the outboard surface of said plate being substantially coplanar with the outboard surface of said front wall, and a support lug integrally formed with said plate and extending outboardly therefrom.

11. A brake head unit comprising a brake head including a front wall and an outboard wall angularly related thereto, a fiat Wear plate secured to the outboard face of said outboard wall, a hollow support lug on said plate projecting outboardly therefrom, and a lug on said outboard wall fitted within said support lug.

12. A brake head comprising a front wall, an outboard wall angularly related thereto, a flat wear plate secured to the outboard face of said outboard wall, and a support lug on said plate projecting outboardly therefrom.

13. A brake beam comprising a structure including tension and compression members and a brake head, a wear plate having a hollow lug projecting outboardly therefrom, and a projection on said structure received within said hollow lug, said plate having fiat portions above and below said lug secured to the outboard side of said head.

14. A brake beam comprising a truss structure including tension and compression members and a brake head, a support projection on said structure extending outboardly of said head, a wear plate including a hollow lug sleeved over said projection, said plate having portions above and below said lug and means securing said portions to said head inboardly of said lug.

15. A brake head unit comprising a brake head with a fiat outboard surface and a lug projecting outboardly therefrom and a wear plate removably secured to said surface and having a hollow lug receiving the first-mentioned lug and adapted to afford guidable support for the unit.

CARL E. TACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 943,021 I-Iuntoon Dec. 14, 1909 2,276,065 Schaefer Mar. 10, 1942 2,368,854 Leverenz Feb. 6, 1945 2,387,132 Flesch Oct. 16, 1945 

